More than a third of teachers and a quarter of support staff working in independent schools say they did not receive a cost of living pay rise in September 2021, according to a survey by the National Education Union (NEU).
The finding prompted Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, to call on independent school employers to “ensure that salaries keep pace with inflation, pensions are not undermined, and that workload demands are reasonable and balanced.”
The union is holding its annual conference this week in Bournemouth.
Staff also reported how Covid had added to their workloads, with extra work introduced during lockdown continuing after the return to full on-site teaching, putting pressure on staff and their families.
One teacher commented: “Unreasonable before and after school duties that make childcare for teachers impossible to negotiate as most childcare providers do not operate 7am-7pm.”
Another member commented that: “Young, well qualified female teachers are being driven out of the school by unrealistic expectations.”
For support staff, Covid has also shone a light on low rates, use of term time only contracts and inequality of sick pay, the NEU said, adding:
“It is unreasonable to expect the lowest paid members of staff to take mandatory chunks of unpaid time off, essentially to protect others, whilst teachers and senior management receive full pay. We are certainly not all in this together.”
Many teachers working in the independent sector face further uncertainty when their employer considers leaving the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
The large majority (71 per cent) of teachers responding said that their employer currently provides access to the TPS, but 60 per cent of the total report that their employer has proposed leaving their scheme.
Of those respondents who have been through a consultation process on exiting TPS (43 per cent), almost half (49 per cent) ended up remaining, while 19 per cent left on improved terms. 32 per cent left on the original terms proposed.
Commenting on the survey results, Dr Bousted, said:
“Covid has cast a long shadow over independent schools. During lockdown, our members worked tirelessly to ensure that the best education possible continued while coping with the health risks to themselves and their pupils. Yet their reward is falling living standards, as pay fails to keep pace with inflation.
“NEU members are rightly raising the alarm that excessive workload demands are eroding family life and driving young female staff from the profession.
“Teachers’ pension rights are coming under increased threat. It is leading to greater unionisation in the sector, as staff seek the added protection of trade union recognition. NEU members working in the independent sector are organising and using their collective strength to robustly resist employers who unilaterally seek to cut their pensions.
“In this unprecedented squeeze on living standards, we call on independent school employers to recognise that the success of their schools is down to the staff. They must ensure that salaries keep pace with inflation, pensions are not undermined, and that workload demands are reasonable and balanced.”
The National Education Union survey of 1,083 teacher members and 198 support staff members was conducted between 22 March and 5 April 2022.